NLD government officials released in amnesty
Sources told DVB that at least three high-ranking officials in the National League for Democracy (NLD) government from 2016-2021 were released in a regime amnesty to mark Burma’s Peasants’ Day on Monday. Jailed NLD State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, who have been held in detention by the military since the coup on Feb. 1, 2021, were not freed, sources confirmed to DVB.
Friends and family members of Moe Moe Su Kyi, the NLD immigration minister in the Yangon Region government who was ousted in the 2021 coup, told DVB that she was released from Yangon’s Insein Prison on March 2. A total of 10,172 prisoners, including 7,337 convicted of violating Sections 50(j) and 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law, were included in this regime amnesty.
NLD member Myo Aung, who was ousted as Naypyidaw Mayor in 2021, was reportedly freed from Mandalay’s Yamethin Prison. The Political Prisoners Network Myanmar reported that 1,895 political prisoners were released from 15 prisons nationwide on March 2. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has documented that at least 22,818 citizens remain in detention for opposing the 2021 military coup. Read more
CHRO updates Australia on Myanmar crisis since 2021 coup
Salai Za Uk Ling, the executive director of the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO), gave evidence about democracy and human rights in Burma since the 2021 coup and an update on the criminal complaint filed in Timor-Leste under the legal principle of universal jurisdiction, before Australia’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee at the Senate in the capital Canberra on Tuesday.
“Australia’s position matters. We respectfully urge [the] clear rejection of [the military’s] illegitimate electoral processes, coordinated measures to restrict aviation fuel used in attacks on civilians, expanded cross border humanitarian assistance, advocacy for referral to the International Criminal Court, and support for lawful accountability efforts,” Salai Za Uk Ling said in his speech at the Australian Senate on March 3.
CHRO collaborated with the Myanmar Accountability Project (MAP), led by Chris Gunness, to file legal proceedings at the Public Prosecutor’s Office in the Timor-Leste capital Dili on Jan. 12 alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity carried out by 14 senior military leaders in Burma since the 2021 coup. Fortify Rights has called on Australia and Timor-Leste to refer Burma to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Five years of sexual violence carried out by the military
In a September 2022 article in Frontier Myanmar online magazine, journalist Ye Mon gave a first-hand account of the sexual violence he faced from regime soldiers after being detained upon his return to Yangon on Dec. 12, 2021 after spending time abroad for work following the 2021 military coup.
“I begged them to stop, but they just told me to be quiet. It went on for about an hour,” Ye Mon recounted in his Frontier Myanmar article. “I was in shock; I never expected the soldiers would behave like that. It occurred to me that if they were sick enough to rape me, they could kill me at any moment.” Ye Mon is not the only Myanmar journalist to face sexual violence.
Hanthar Nyein, the co-founder of Kamayut Media, was arrested alongside Burmese-American journalist and fellow co-founder Nathan Maung on March 9, 2021. Hanthar told DVB by email that he was tortured and threatened with sexual violence by soldiers during a two-week-long interrogation at Yay Kyi Ai interrogation centre in Yangon’s Mingaladon Township. Read more
News by Region
ARAKAN—Residents in the state capital Sittwe told DVB that the Arakan Army (AA) has been attacking regime outposts, including the Shwemingan Naval Base, in villages located 1-5 mile (1.6-8 km) northeast of Sittwe. since Feb. 23. The AA has been fighting regime forces in Sittwe since February 2025.
An AA member told DVB on the condition of anonymity that regime forces have launched artillery strikes on Ponnagyun and Pauktaw townships, 20-131 miles (32-210 km) north and east of Sittwe. No casualties have been reported. The AA has seized 14 of 17 Arakan townships, as well as Paletwa Township in southern Chin State, since it launched an offensive in 2023.
SAGAING—Eleven civilians, including three children, were killed and over 10 others were injured by airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on Laikpout village on Sunday, Pinlebu Township residents told DVB. Pinlebu, located 216 miles (348 km) north of the region’s capital Monywa, was seized by resistance forces on Oct. 8, 2024.
A Pinlebu resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity that seven civilians were killed during the first airstrike with four more being killed during the second airstrike. Residents claimed that there is no National Unity Government (NUG)-run hospital operating in the village, as was claimed on pro-military channels.
SHAN—Residents of Tachileik Township told DVB that the price of Gasohol 91/95 reached 4,324 MMK ($1.5 USD) per liter on Monday as vehicles queued at petrol stations with some locations limiting sales. Tachileik, located 324 miles (523 km) east of the state capital Taunggyi, relies on fuel imports from Thailand.
Thai media reported long queues at petrol stations in Mae Sai, Thailand, on Tuesday, which is located directly across the Burma-Thai border from Tachilek. On March 1, Thailand announced it would suspend fuel exports due to rising global oil prices from the ongoing U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 3,905 MMK)
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